WrLIJ TRIBE9. 



The imde of swenring in the Hindoos need not 

 here be described, as it is the same as in Hindoostan. 

 i> it what are we to say to the Samanjj, the Bilaa, the 

 Alias, the :VIani, the Lamor, the Jihall, the Lulleh, the 

 Te >, the Pdlle, the Taming 1 , the Battti,tbe Kahmtan, the 

 Kunseeoo, the Kumta, Keen, Be-enor, Tedeh, and 

 Kensat — -all wild, or nearly so, tribes scattered over 

 Sumatra and the Peninsula, and who profess to be 

 its all rligtttei ? 



I have encountered some of these tribes in Perak 

 and other places, and have occasionally had whole 

 families at my station for weeks at a time. The 

 Alias swear by thtrader and lightning, and the 

 filling- tree of the forest. The Bila, as far as could 

 be ehcifed, acknowledge no god or spirits, or future 

 state; yet they have evidently some vague apprehen- 

 sion that something happens alter death. They also 

 swear by thunder, which they venerate and propitiate. 

 V.'ith the exception of the woolly-haired Saiuanys — 

 •rho are nearly as dark, but not so glossy, as Afri- 

 < MMS. nor ;ii all to be compared to t hem in stature 



i I muscular strength— the other tribes are, general- 

 Un<*', far from bein^ positively savage in their 

 aspect or manners. Several have fairer complexions 

 than the ireuerality of Malays. I observed the same 

 Contrast betwixt the Kay en tribes of Teunasscrim 

 and the Burmese; but more particularly the Peguers, 

 who are, for this portion of Asia, rather a dark race. 

 As an instance how little a society can help itself in 

 securing a guaranty for the truth, J will mention a 

 circumstance which occurred at one of the late 

 Criminal Sessious in Penang^. A native land-holder, 

 a man of substance, and a kazee, was brought before 

 the Jury on a charge, of dealing in slaves. The 

 complainant was a Batta woman from Sumatra. 

 As most of the Battas who are settled here, 



